Soudal Quick-Step would like to announce that Belgian Jurgen Foré will join the team as their new Chief Operating Officer.
The 53-year-old Foré, who hails from Eeklo, will fully join the team in January from Deloitte where he is a partner, having moved into the world of consulting in his 20’s, which led to him working with several large, multinational corporations and running his own company. Foré has also worked with Flanders Classics and Lotto-Dstny in the past, and having grown up in a cycling family, (his father Noël won Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem), Jurgen has a deep passion and understanding for the sport, in which he still plays a vital part of coaching young riders and being involved in race organisation.
As part of his role as COO, Foré will carry out the daily management of the organisation, assist CEO Patrick Lefevere in general management, determining an operating budget, and with the search for sufficient funding from sponsors and other revenue opportunities. He will also oversee the sportive management of the team, such as taking decisions on race calendars, rider programs, and rider recruitment and retainment.
Speaking of his appointment, Foré said: “I am excited because for me it is things coming together – I was a cyclist up to the age of 23, where life made me make some other choices. I went for a different professional career, in consulting, which means that I can now combine my love for cycling with my professional experience. I am passionate about getting the best out of a team and organisation, and it all comes together in this role, which is a unique opportunity that excites me.”
Of the appointment, Soudal Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere said: “I am delighted to have Jurgen on board. He is a man that has an impressive CV, that mixes both a love and knowledge of cycling, with business and executive acumen and experience. He will help to develop our team to be even more successful both as an organisation and a business, as well as sportingly, and I know everybody at Soudal Quick-Step is looking forward to working with him.”